Patents Assigned to Va. Inc.
  • Patent number: 8783978
    Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a drive ring having a permanent magnet disposed thereon. The shutter assembly also includes a solenoid defining a gap between first and second magnetic poles thereof, the drive ring being disposed coplanar with the solenoid and being rotatable in response to a magnetic field created between the first and second magnetic poles. The shutter assembly also includes a plurality of shutter blades configured to transition between an open position and a closed position in response to rotation of the drive ring. The shutter assembly further includes a base plate separating the plurality of shutter blades from at least one of the drive ring and the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: VA, Inc.
    Inventors: David Viglione, Stephen T. Pasquarella
  • Patent number: 8727645
    Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a drive ring having a permanent magnet disposed thereon. The shutter assembly also includes a solenoid defining a gap between first and second magnetic poles thereof, the drive ring being disposed coplanar with the solenoid and being rotatable in response to a magnetic field created between the first and second magnetic poles. The shutter assembly also includes a plurality of shutter blades configured to transition between an open position and a closed position in response to rotation of the drive ring. The shutter assembly further includes a base plate separating the plurality of shutter blades from at least one of the drive ring and the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: VA, Inc.
    Inventors: David Viglione, Stephen Pasquarella
  • Patent number: 8651754
    Abstract: A shutter includes a driver ring, a plurality of shutter blades coupled to the drive ring such that movement of the drive ring transitions the plurality of shutter blades between an open position exposing a central aperture of the shutter, and a closed position blocking the central aperture, and a first stop and a second stop movable relative to the first stop. At least one of the first and second stops limits travel of the shutter blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: VA, Inc.
    Inventors: David Viglione, Stephen T. Pasquarella, David Michael Krieger, Helen Hong Yan
  • Publication number: 20140029931
    Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a drive ring having a permanent magnet disposed thereon. The shutter assembly also includes a solenoid defining a gap between first and second magnetic poles thereof, the drive ring being disposed coplanar with the solenoid and being rotatable in response to a magnetic field created between the first and second magnetic poles. The shutter assembly also includes a plurality of shutter blades configured to transition between an open position and a closed position in response to rotation of the drive ring. The shutter assembly further includes a base plate separating the plurality of shutter blades from at least one of the drive ring and the solenoid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: VA, Inc.
    Inventors: David Viglione, Stephen T. Pasquarella
  • Publication number: 20130136442
    Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a drive ring having a permanent magnet disposed thereon. The shutter assembly also includes a solenoid defining a gap between first and second magnetic poles thereof, the drive ring being disposed coplanar with the solenoid and being rotatable in response to a magnetic field created between the first and second magnetic poles. The shutter assembly also includes a plurality of shutter blades configured to transition between an open position and a closed position in response to rotation of the drive ring. The shutter assembly further includes a base plate separating the plurality of shutter blades from at least one of the drive ring and the solenoid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: VA, INC.
    Inventor: VA, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8439581
    Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a plurality of shutter blades movable between an open position and a closed position, a drive ring having first and second oppositely-facing sides, at least one of the shutter blades being movably coupled to the first side, and a first permanent magnet coupled to the second side of the drive ring. The shutter assembly also includes a first solenoid selectively energizable to alternately attract and repel the first permanent magnet along an arcuate path beneath the first solenoid, thereby transitioning the plurality of shutter blades between the open and closed positions. The shutter assembly also includes a sensor assembly configured to detect a location of the first permanent magnet along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: VA, Inc.
    Inventors: David Viglione, Stephen T. Pasquaretta
  • Patent number: 8333521
    Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a base having a stop and a central aperture, a permanent magnet rotatably mounted on the base, and a shutter blade directly mounted on the magnet and configured to move between an open position exposing the aperture and a closed position blocking the aperture. The magnet contacts the stop in the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: VA, Inc.
    Inventor: David Viglione
  • Patent number: 8322935
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of shutter blades includes providing a shutter assembly including a solenoid having a first magnetic pole, a second magnetic pole, and a gap between the first and second poles. The shutter assembly also includes a permanent magnet moveable within the gap in a path coplanar with the solenoid, wherein movement of the permanent magnet transitions the plurality of shutter blades between an open position exposing a central opening of the shutter assembly and a closed position. The method also includes moving the plurality of shutter blades between the open and closed positions, and reducing an electrical signal applied to the solenoid while the plurality of shutter blades is in transit between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: VA, Inc.
    Inventor: David Viglione
  • Patent number: 8317417
    Abstract: A rotary photographic shutter includes a base plate, a rotating ring, a plurality of shutter blades pivotally connected to the base plate, and moveable between an open position and a closed position in response to rotation of the ring, and an actuation assembly connected to the base plate, the actuation assembly includes a drive arm operable to selectively rotate the ring. The exemplary rotary photographic shutter also includes a bumper assembly comprising at least one resilient element fixedly disposed with respect to the base plate. The drive arm impinges the resilient element when the plurality of shutter blades is in the open and closed positions, and the drive arm is isolated from contact with the resilient element when the plurality of shutter blades is between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: VA, Inc.
    Inventors: David Viglione, Helen Hong Yan, John Thomas Jones
  • Patent number: 8313255
    Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a drive ring having a permanent magnet disposed thereon. The shutter assembly also includes a solenoid defining a gap between first and second magnetic poles thereof, the drive ring being disposed coplanar with the solenoid and being rotatable in response to a magnetic field created between the first and second magnetic poles. The shutter assembly also includes a plurality of shutter blades configured to transition between an open position and a closed position in response to rotation of the drive ring. The shutter assembly further includes a base plate separating the plurality of shutter blades from at least one of the drive ring and the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: VA, Inc.
    Inventors: David Viglione, Stephen T. Pasquarella
  • Patent number: 8128296
    Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a plurality of shutter blades movable between an open position and a closed position, a drive ring having first and second oppositely-facing sides, at least one of the shutter blades being movably coupled to the first side, and a first permanent magnet coupled to the second side of the drive ring. The shutter assembly also includes a first solenoid selectively energizable to alternately attract and repel the first permanent magnet along an arcuate path beneath the first solenoid, thereby transitioning the plurality of shutter blades between the open and closed positions. The shutter assembly also includes a sensor assembly configured to detect a location of the first permanent magnet along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: VA, Inc.
    Inventors: David Viglione, Stephen T. Pasquarella
  • Publication number: 20110242636
    Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a base having a stop and a central aperture, a permanent magnet rotatably mounted on the base, and a shutter blade directly mounted on the magnet and configured to move between an open position exposing the aperture and a closed position blocking the aperture. The magnet contacts the stop in the open and closed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: VA, INC.
    Inventor: David Viglione
  • Publication number: 20110206362
    Abstract: A rotary photographic shutter includes a base plate, a rotating ring, a plurality of shutter blades pivotally connected to the base plate, and moveable between an open position and a closed position in response to rotation of the ring, and an actuation assembly connected to the base plate, the actuation assembly includes a drive arm operable to selectively rotate the ring. The exemplary rotary photographic shutter also includes a bumper assembly comprising at least one resilient element fixedly disposed with respect to the base plate. The drive arm impinges the resilient element when the plurality of shutter blades is in the open and closed positions, and the drive arm is isolated from contact with the resilient element when the plurality of shutter blades is between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: VA, Inc.
    Inventors: David Viglione, Helen Hong Yan, John Thomas Jones
  • Patent number: 7883280
    Abstract: A shutter includes at least one shutter blade, a magnet moveably connected to the at least one shutter blade, and a solenoid defining a gap between a first pole and a second pole. The solenoid is configured to controllably draw the magnet into the gap in a first state and to controllably repel the magnet from the gap in a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: VA, Inc.
    Inventor: David Viglione
  • Patent number: 7845865
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of shutter blades activated by a solenoid to move the plurality of shutter blades between an open position and a closed position includes reducing an electrical signal applied to the solenoid while the plurality of shutter blades is in transit between the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: VA, Inc.
    Inventors: David Viglione, Stephen T. Pasquarella
  • Patent number: 7614806
    Abstract: A damping system for an electromagnetically operable rotary shutter includes a damper for arresting the motion of a pivotally supported shutter actuating drive arm. The damper has a first portion composed of an ultrahigh density polyethylene and a second portion composed of a damped polyurethane that are arranged to strike one against the other during operation of the shutter. Moreover the first portion of the damper has a straight edge and the second portion has a surface that is curved so as to maintain substantially a point contact between the two portions throughout the duration of the impact between the two. The combination of materials and configuration of the surfaces of the two portions provides energy absorption while avoiding the adherence of the two portions upon impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: VA, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Pasquarella, Helen Yan, Christopher Akuncius
  • Publication number: 20090232488
    Abstract: A shutter includes at least one shutter blade, a magnet moveably connected to the at least one shutter blade, and a solenoid defining a gap between a first pole and a second pole. The solenoid is configured to controllably draw the magnet into the gap in a first state and to controllably repel the magnet from the gap in a second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: VA, Inc.
    Inventor: David Viglione
  • Publication number: 20090232489
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of shutter blades includes providing a shutter assembly including a solenoid having a first magnetic pole, a second magnetic pole, and a gap between the first and second poles. The shutter assembly also includes a permanent magnet moveable within the gap in a path coplanar with the solenoid, wherein movement of the permanent magnet transitions the plurality of shutter blades between an open position exposing a central opening of the shutter assembly and a closed position. The method also includes moving the plurality of shutter blades between the open and closed positions, and reducing an electrical signal applied to the solenoid while the plurality of shutter blades is in transit between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: VA, Inc.
    Inventor: David Viglione
  • Publication number: 20090162050
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of shutter blades activated by a solenoid to move the plurality of shutter blades between an open position and a closed position includes reducing an electrical signal applied to the solenoid while the plurality of shutter blades is in transit between the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: VA, Inc.
    Inventors: David Viglione, Stephen T. Pasquarella
  • Patent number: D946102
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: JC International of VA, Inc.
    Inventor: John E Conde